Selection of teams for various games – Football, Cricket, Chess and Basketball was initiated completed by the PE masters.

School won two football matches against St. Blaise (13 July) and against Jamnabai Narsee School (22 July).

It was on 13 July, 2009 that me(Vrushabh), Garreth and Nader along with 32 boys from Delhi, Mumbai and Gujarat left Indian soil and boarded our flight to Sweden.  Our purpose of going to Sweden was to play the very famous Gothia Cup, the World Youth Cup.  In Sweden we stayed in the Ramberg School which was converted for us to stay.  The facilities made for us were very good and made us fed that we are at home. We reached Sweden at 11:00 pm after a very long journey.  On reaching we were informed that we had a match.  The very next morning there were three teams and we were playing for “PHOENIX SPORTS”.  Next morning we woke up with the excitement of playing our first match at the International level.  In total we played four matches and unfortunately lost all.  But we were not disheartened as Garreth Pereira scored the first goal for India in the tournament.  We played the following teams :-

Hammar by IF (Sweden), US Atlantic Storm (USA), Bk Zews (Sweden) and Hackin (Sweden)

We played on the grounds of Grimbo and Hayden.  The grounds were very well maintained and when we saw them for the first time we were left spellbound.  We also saw the opening ceremony which was held at the Ullevi Stadium.  The ceremony was fabulous.  The way the teams came in with their countries flags held high and the representatives of five different countries taking the oath in their language was awesome.  The whole stadium was on their feet, chanting slogans and singing songs.  For us, it was an experience of a life time.  While we were there we also learned some Swedish language.  We also caught up with teams of different countries and asked them how they felt playing the tournament.  We were taken to the official Gothia Cup store in Hayden and did lots of shopping there.  We also went to Leisenberg Amusement Park.  The rides there were breathtaking and there we saw the biggest roller coaster of the world.  During our stay we had lots of fun and were lucky to get such an opportunity and make full use of it.
On the whole it was an enthralling and a wholesome experience which we will cherish for the rest of our life. We bought back lots of memories that would last forever.  In the end I would like to thank my parents and the school for giving me this opportunity by

A Report by Sonali Pinge – IX A
It was a Saturday morning and the students of Lilavatibai Podar Senior Secondary School went                                                   ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­to the Kondana Caves at Karjat.  The Kondana caves are the smallest but most interesting caves in the western face of a hill.  These caves overlook the stream of Ulhas river.  Most of the students from standard eight had joined the camp.  We were accompanied by a few of our PE teachers along with a few members from ‘Duke of Edinburgh’ Award Scheme.

All of us gathered in the schoolyard early morning.  The usual drowsy faces all wore an animated look.  We were waiting to board the bus, ready with our trekking outfits, keds, backpacks and other paraphernalia.  We left at 8:00 am.  It was a long journey.  We were provided with a healthy breakfast.  We took almost three hours to reach the foothills at Karjat.  As soon as we alighted our teachers instructed us to be in groups.

It was a beautiful place.  It was drizzling lightly and the cool and moist breeze tickled our faces as we walked.  We quickly pulled on our wind cheaters.  Our teachers led us while we followed the trail.  We were climbing up the hill.  As we walked by, the valley provided a panoramic view.  It was lush green all round, tall grass and creepers spread their arms. Elsewhere creepy crawlies ran helter – shelter to save themselves from getting trampled under our feet.  Aerial roots hung from the trees which lay on either sides of our path.  The fresh air                             of wild flowers, leaves and the fragrance of wet soil.  The twitter of little birds and the buzz of insects are sounds which can barely be heard in the city.

We had the opportunity to see the live zoology and botany right before our eyes.  After almost two hours of walk we could see the Kondana caves within reach.  Some of us also lost our shoes while some shoe soles gave way.  Necessity is the mother of invention – so we wore plastic bags and tied it with laces.  Crystal clear water and we jumped with joy.  We got into the ice cold water skipping and falling over the rocks which lay beneath the water.  Rappling activity was provided for those interested.  It looked scary!  It was dark near the caves as the canopy of the trees covered the area while a little light passed through the network of trees covering the area.  The silhouette of the caves looked awesome in the dim light.  Many of us played in the water while a few others explored the area.  After almost four to five hours it was time for us to leave.  Some of us changed into fresh clothes.

Walking down the hill was even difficult, we could hear Ouch! Thud! as we were moving and observing nature.  The walk down was much faster.  Once we reached the foothills we realized that our legs are aching.  We had never ever walked so much.

It was the most exciting trek and provided us with all different experiences.  I would love to go for the trek once again.